Healthy cooking may seem like a challenge because the assumption tends to be that healthy foods are more bland, less appetizing, and “as if something is missing.” But do not despair there are ways to cook clean, healthy, flavorful, and tasty.

Here are a few cooking ingredients that will add lots of flavor to your healthy dishes, while also being packed with nutrients:

1. Dry Toasted Spices

The dry heat helps transform certain spices by extracting aromas in form of essential oils and adding flavor. Some of these spices are cinnamon, cumin, cardamom, coriander, clove, anise, mustard, chilies, peppers, fennel, onion, and garlic. These flavors can be added to baked goods, dressings, rubs, marinades, sauces, flavored butters, and in pickling process, or favorite hot beverages.

Raw nuts can be used for a multitude of purposes; from nut milks, cheeses, heavy creams, and flour/meal, as well as using them as snacks and cooked in foods. A great choice to experiment with are almond, cashew, hazelnut, pistachios, and macadamia.

There is a number of herbs that have healing properties, which have been used for hundreds of years across the globe. These are great to have in your arsenal in the kitchen, which can also be easily grown in the windowsill or a balcony almost year-round. Try these in your next dish: oregano, mint, fennel, sage, thyme, basil, dill, rosemary, parsley, chives, and tarragon. These can be sauteed with other vegetables, added in marinades, dressings, and sauces, used as garnishes, and used fresh in salads.